Gray whale Gray whale (Zo["o]l.),
a rather large and swift baleen whale of the northernPacific
({Eschrichtius robustus}, formerly {Rhachianectes glaucus}),
having short jaws and no dorsal fin; -- called also
{grayback}, {devilfish}, and {hardhead}. It grows to a length
of 50 feet (sometimes 60 feet). It was formerly taken in
large numbers in the bays of California, and is now rare. It
lives up to 50 or 60 years and adults weigh from 20 to 40
tons.
[1913 Webster + PJC]

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Devilfish — or devil fish may refer to one of the following: Contents 1 People 2 Marine creatures 3 Other 4 References People Dev … Wikipedia

devilfish — [dev′əl fish΄] n. pl. devilfish or devilfishes (see FISH) 1. any manta: so called because its pectoral fins are hornlike near the eyes 2. any large cephalopod, esp. the octopus … English World dictionary

Devilfish — Dev il*fish , n. (Zo[ o]l.) (a) A huge ray ({Manta birostris} or {Cephaloptera vampyrus}) of the Gulf of Mexico and Southern Atlantic coasts. Several other related species take the same name. See {Cephaloptera}. (b) A large cephalopod, especially … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

devilfish — manta ray manta ray n. An extremely large pelagic tropical ray of the family {Mobulidae}, that feeds on plankton and small fishes. It is usually harmless but its size (up to 20 feet across and up to a ton in weight) make it dangerous if harpooned … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

devilfish — Cephaloptera Ceph a*lop te*ra (s[e^]f [.a]*l[o^]p t[ e]*r[.a]), n. [NL., fr. Gr. kefalh head + ptero n wing.] (Zo[ o]l.) One of the generic names of the gigantic ray ({Manta birostris}) of the family {Mobulidae}, known as {devilfish}, {sea devil} … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

devilfish — /ˈdɛvəlfɪʃ/ (say devuhlfish) noun (plural devilfish or devilfishes) 1. Also, devil ray. the manta ray, Manta alfredi, of the Great Barrier Reef and north Australian waters; diamond fish. 2. any of several large rays of genera Manta and Mobula,… … Australian English dictionary